Question to GP Maarten: Coughing up mucus after a cold
Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand and writes about medical facts.
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Dear Martin,
I caught a cold weeks ago and although this is over I keep coughing up phlegm, especially in the morning. Went to Sapasit inter hospital in Ubon 2 weeks ago and the doctor had an X-ray taken of my lungs which were fine. She gave me Fluimucil 600, Cetirizine 10, Berodual, and a drug unknown to me that was given without packaging. Now after 2 weeks the result is nil.
I am 62 years old, do not normally take any medication, am not allergic to anything and was a moderate smoker (1 pack every 2 weeks).
I think it may be a chronic bronchitis.
What medicines can you recommend?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
R.
*****
Dear R,
The medications the doctor prescribed seem correct. She treats three things at once, apparently because she doesn't know either: hard mucus (Fluimucil), allergy (Ceterizine) and asthma (Berodual), while it is probably a stubborn cold.
Another possibility is stomach acid, which rises at night that you inhale. Do you suffer from heartburn? Then take at least a higher pillow and possibly omeprazole 20 mg (every pharmacy has it) before breakfast.
If not, it could also be a problem in the nose or throat. Even a heart problem is not ruled out.
Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe just any medication in this case, except for the omeprazole. That is shooting at an unknown and invisible target.
I think it's better to go back to the doctor. Then also ask what the 4th medicine is.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Vasbinder